Leak proof toilet flushing system

ABSTRACT

This invention eliminates the wastage of water from the toilet flushing systems and also solves the problems that commonly exist in the toilet systems today. It uses a leak trap system that shuts down incoming water in case of a leak in the flushing system. It provides a simple and cost effective solution.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to toilet or urinal flushing systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's most commonly used toilet flushing systems have the following short comings that need to be solved:

-   -   Toilets are inefficient. According to the USA EPA, environmental         protection agency,         https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts, “The         average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in         water costs per year by replacing all old, inefficient toilets         in their home”. Unidentifiable water leaks from the tank into         the bowl or urinal unless close attention is paid.     -   no visible or audible alerts of leakage of water from tank into         the bowl;     -   Identified water leaks often get ignored due to apathy or         financial restraints of the user resulting in water wastage;     -   Only two quantities of flushing water available, namely full         flush or half flush to handle solid and liquid wastes         respectively;     -   Due to government mandated water restrictions reduced water         usage per flush the efficiency of flushing is diminished;     -   Condensation (sweating) occurs on the toilet tank due to the         temperature difference between the tank and the surrounding         whereby the condensate drains onto the floor resulting in water         damage;     -   It is generally expensive to replace failed components due to         the cost of components and or the cost of professional labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is based on the “Failure Mode and Effects Analysis” abbreviated as FMEA, a tool used in the design and manufacturing industry. According to this the components of a commonly used toilet flushing system are analyzed. The toilet flushing system predominantly used today consists of a reservoir, a flush valve operated by a lever and a water fill valve controlled by a float.

Failure mode and effects analysis is performed on the components the failure of which result in water wastage.

Flush valve: The flush valve generally consists of a soft material that opens and closes an opening between the reservoir and the bowl. The failure mode in the flush valve is the deterioration of the sealing material. The valve hardens and warps in due course resulting in the miss match of the sealing surfaces and water leaks through the valve. Another mode of failure is when solid particles such as mold, algae, salt from water, additives used in the flush water that get lodged between the sealing surfaces preventing a water tight seal. The effect of this failure is water wastage.

Water fill valve: The failure mode of fill valve is the wear and deterioration of the sealing material and solid particles lodging between the sealing surfaces. As an effect, water continues to pass through the valve even after being fully closed. This failure mode is generally inevitable in the long run.

In this invention a backup valve located upstream of the fill valve closes the water supply in case the fill valve continues to allow water passage after being fully closed.

Float: It is the user's responsibility to install the float. Any error in installation or bending of the float rod will result in overflow of the reservoir in to the bowl. It is likely the overflow of the reservoir is unnoticed.

This invention provides a toilet flushing system that solves the problems listed above.

This invention

-   -   eliminates the flapper seal between the tank and the bowl that         are prone to leak;     -   uses the leaking water to prevent further leaks;     -   provides a visible and or audible alert when leakage occurs;     -   allows the user to reset the system to fill the reservoir for         every flush after the system's water flow is shut off;     -   urges early action by the user in case of water leakage due to         the inconvenience of resetting each flush;     -   can be added into existing conventional toilet flushing systems;     -   eliminates condensation on the water tank surface occurring in         existing systems;     -   can be mounted at a higher elevation than that of a ceramic tank         that is mounted right on top of the bowl. Water from higher         elevation increases the velocity in which water enters the bowl         resulting in better flushing of bowl surface. This is especially         true when the quantity of the flushing water is restricted;     -   allows the use of more than one reservoir to eliminate wait time         between flushes or if additional water is required for a flush.     -   allows full flush or partial flush of any fractional quantity         compared to half or full flush capability of today's flushing         system.

PRIOR ART

The patents identified as prior art in this application teach the methods to solve specific problems and do not address all operational failure modes and do not provide a comprehensive solution. The patents that use a tilt bucket as an alternative to often problematic flush valve does not address overflow of tilt bucket or valve failure. The patents that use the flush valve either solve the problem of overflow or leak of flush valve and not both.

Only a dual flush mode is available to conserve water is available. This invention allows the use of any quantity desired as against the half or full dispensing offered by the dual flush. The dual flush option requires a separate system whereas this invention does not. The patents that teach the art of shutting down the water flow in case of a leak puts a user in a predicament of not being able to flush since they do not teach methods to intermittently override the disablement of the flushing system.

No toilet flushing system that eliminates all failure modes in a simplistic arrangement of systems that is cost effective is available today.

Another technique used in the toilet flushing system that does not use the flapper valve system is siphoning the flush water into the bowl. In summary, there is no commonly known toilet flushing system is totally leak proof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of tilting reservoir flushing system and bowl.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of tilting reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tilting reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the support system for tilting reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the leak trough.

FIG. 6. is an isometric view of the fill water control system.

FIG. 7 is a fill valve in open position for tilting reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 8 is a fill valve in closed position for tilting reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 9 is a backup valve in open position for tilting reservoir flushing system

FIG. 10 is a backup valve in closed position for tilting reservoir flushing system

FIG. 11 is a tilt reservoir full and ready to flush.

FIG. 12 is the tilting reservoir partially tilted for partial flush.

FIG. 13 is the tilting reservoir in fully tilted and reservoir emptied.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the rocking reservoir flushing system and bowl

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the rocking reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the rocking reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the rocking reservoir.

FIG. 18 is the rocking reservoir filled and closing the fill valve with center of mass indicated.

FIG. 19 is the rocking reservoir not filled and opening the fill valve with center of mass indicated.

FIG. 20 is the fill water control system of the rocking reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 21 is the position of the displacer in rocking reservoir ready for flush.

FIG. 21 is the position of the displacer in rocking reservoir partially flushed.

FIG. 22 is the position of the displacer in rocking reservoir fully flushed.

FIG. 24 is the isometric view of the fixed reservoir flushing system and bowl.

FIG. 25 is an isometric view of the fixed reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the fixed reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 27 is a fill water control system for fixed reservoir flushing system.

FIG. 28 is an exploded view of the fill water control system for fixed reservoir flushing system and fixed reservoir.

FIG. 29 is a backup valve in the fixed reservoir flushing system in open position.

FIG. 30 is a backup valve in the fixed reservoir flushing system in closed position.

FIG. 31 is a wiring diagram for solenoid valve for the fill valve and backup valve operation

FIG. 32 is a wiring diagram for flush handle motor with a commutator switch.

FIG. 33 is the unfilled tilting with center of mass indicated.

FIG. 34 is the filled tilting reservoir with center of mass indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises of a reservoir, flush handle, fill water control system, leak capturing system, leak alert and reset system, bowl overflow protector system and electric control system. The various embodiments described in this invention comprise these systems with minor variations in the setup, method of dispensing water to the bowl and operation. The unique feature of this invention is that all leak and overflow water are collected within the system and the same water is used to shut off the incoming water. It is also unique that the flush water cannot mix with the leak water.

Preferred Embodiment

This embodiment comprises support system, tilting reservoir, flush handle, fill water control system, leak trough, alert and reset bar, bowl overflow preventer and electronic controls

Support system;

A support ( ) is located above the toilet bowl( ) and is fluidly connected to the bowl. It encompasses a reservoir, ( ) valve system( ) and leak collection system( ).

Tilting Reservoir

A tilting reservoir receives and dispenses water for flushing. The tilting reservoir pivotally rests on the support in a manner it freely rotates on an axis. A flush handle is attached to the tilting reservoir for flushing operation from outside of the support.

The tilting reservoir is geometrically designed so that the center of mass of the tilting reservoir, its attachments and its content, water, lies to the left or to the right when viewed through the axis. The term left or right can be interchangeably used depending on the direction of the view along the axis. For clarity and consistency in this description the flush valve is in between the viewer and the tilting reservoir. The center of mass of an empty tilting reservoir is to the right of the axis and the center of mass moves towards the left of the axis as water is added to the tilting reservoir. Mass is added at strategic locations to control the orientation of the center of mass with respect to the axis. When overflow occurs in the reservoir a tube delivers the overflow water to the trough through provided channel. The overflow tube is located just below the level of the reservoir outlet. The system is designed to prevent water flow through the overflow tube during flushing.

Flush Handle

A flush handle axially aligned with the tilting reservoir's axis of rotation facilitates a controlled rotation of the tilting reservoir to discharge required amount of flush water into the bowl from the tilting reservoir. The angle of rotation, as desired by the user, determines the amount of flush water dispensed. A decal with the fraction of flushing operation is provided in the background of the valve as a guide to the user. A flush valve stop is used in conjunction with the valve as a limit to how far the valve can be operated. Flush handle connected to an electric motor can be operated by a switch or electronic control system where the position of the flush handle can be precisely controlled by a computer controller system.

Fill Water Control System

The valve system comprises at least one fill valve which controls the flow of the water into the tilting reservoir from a water source under pressure. The incoming water (101) is connected to the backup vale inlet. The fill valve is activated by the orientation of the tilting reservoir. The fill valve is normally open and is closed by the tilting reservoir's movement by means including mechanical, electrical and magnetical. A backup valve is connected upstream to the fill valve with the purpose of closing the water flow to the fill valve. The backup valve that is normally open is closed by a leak trough by means including mechanical, electrical and magnetical.

Leak Trough

Water from all sources other than flush water including tilting reservoir overflow, leak water from valve body, lines, connections gather into the leak trough. Care is taken that the flush water is isolated from the leak trough. The leak trough is pivotally attached to the support. When leak or overflow water collects at the trough it tilts due to the shifting of center of mass away or towards the axis of attachment. Mass is added strategically to the leak trough to achieve proper functionality of the leak trough, i.e. close the backup valve.

Alert/Reset Bar

The alert/reset bar's function is to alert the user regarding the leak inside the support. One end of the bar is connected to the leak trough and the other end extends out of the support for visual presentation to the user. When the fill water control system is shut down due to water leak the user can be in the predicament of having to flush the toilet and there is no water in the tilting reservoir. To overcome this, the tilting reservoir can be filled by bringing back the leak trough to its normal position whereby the backup valve is opened. The reset bar needs to be held down until the tilting reservoir is filled to operational level. This urges the user to solve the problem with the flushing system. The alert bar in addition to the visual display can actuate sound alarm, electronic signal system, etc.

Toilet Bowl Overflow Preventer.

When the toilet bowl is clogged adding flush water will overflow from the bowl. To prevent overflow the flushing operation needs to be stopped when the water level in the bowl rises. The bowl overflow preventer comprises a float, a tilting reservoir tilt lock and means of connection between the float and the tilt lock which includes mechanical and electrical.

Electronic Control System

The electronic control system comprises of an electric power source, switches, commutator switches, relays, solenoid valves, electric motors computer hardware and software, sensors and light indicators. The electronic control system augments the operation of the toilet flushing system. It operates the valves, flush handle and electronic gadgets attached to the flushing system.

Operation of this Embodiment.

When the tilting reservoir is empty or partially filled, the fill valve that is normally open allows water to flow into the tilting reservoir. When a set quantity of water is added to the tilting reservoir it closes the fill valve and water flow is stopped. The flush handle is operated to the release the desired quantity of water from the tilting reservoir to the bowl. The fill valve opens again as the tilting reservoir is no longer holding it closed. The flush handle can also be operated by the use of electronic control system. The exact amount of flush water discharge can be programmed in an electronic control system with input control devices.

If any leak or overflow occurs that water is channeled to the leak trough. The leak trough closes the backup valve and also raises the alert/reset bar. The automatic operation of the flushing system is interrupted until the leak or overflow problem is attended to. The user has to hold the alert/reset bar down to open the backup valve to enable flow of water to the tilting reservoir.

Another embodiment of the flushing system comprises

a support system, a rocking reservoir, a displacer, a flush handle, a fill water control system, a leak trough, an alert/reset bar, bowl overflow preventer and Electronic control system.

The principal difference between the embodiments described above is in the reservoir and displacer.

The rocking reservoir differs from the tilting reservoir in the aspect of displacement of water from the reservoir is done by a displacer. This is arrangement is useful when there is not much room in the support for the reservoir to tilt or rotate. The rocking reservoir packages better than the tilting reservoir. The rocking reservoir is a cylindrical vessel with a post along the central axis. The rocking reservoir rests on the support by a knife edge across which it rocks. The rocking reservoir rocks to the left or right when viewed along the knife edge. The rocking reservoir is tilted to the right when it is empty or partially full. It is tilted to the left when full. A balancing chamber is added to the cylinder to bring the rocking reservoir to the left when the rocking reservoir receives required amount of flush water. The center of mass moves from right to left when the rocking reservoir is full. The movement from left to right or right to left is discrete. It is improbable for the rocking reservoir to balance on the knife edge without rocking to the left or to the right.

The displacer is a pad like member whose edges move in close proximity of the reservoir. The movement of the displacer forces the water from the rocking reservoir into the bowl. In the cylindrical portion of the rocking reservoir a cylindrical rod is attached concentrically to the cylinder. A fixed pad is attached between the rod and the cylinder wall. The displacer is pivotally attached to the rod. During the movement of the displacer water in the space bounded by the cylinder wall, fixed pad and displacer is displaced out of the cylinder into the bowl. One side of the displacer, termed flushing side, provides the force to displace water. When the flushing side of the displacer moves toward the fixed pad water overflows from the cylindrical portion of the rocking reservoir. The engagement of the displacer with the cylinder wall is not water tight. A small leak at the edge of the displacer and the cylinder wall does not matter since the displacer is moved at a faster rate during the flushing operation.

A flush handle is attached to the top of the displacer. Turning the handle clockwise, looking from the top, with reference to the drawings shown, is flushing mode. The amount of displaced water depends on the angle of turning. A decal in the background of the handle is a guide to the user regarding the amount of water flushed (not shown in figures). The displacer is returned to position by means including spring, counter weight, electric motor, and water pressure (not shown in FIGS.

Yet another embodiment of the flushing system comprises

a support system, a stationary reservoir, a float, a vertical displacer, a lift handle, a fill water control system, a leak trough, an alert/reset bar, bowl overflow preventer and Electronic control system.

The primary difference between the embodiments described above is the reservoir is fixed compared to the tilting and rocking reservoirs. In order to close the fill valve a float system is used. The float rises as the water fills the reservoir. When the water level reaches the required height the float's arm closes the fill valve. The float open or close the fill valve by means including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electronic control system, etc.

The vertical displacer pad whose edges engage with the stationary reservoir walls displaces the water from inside to the bowl. In the event of an overflow of water to the reservoir a tube is attached to the reservoir to properly drain the overflow water to the trough. A feedback tube (100) attached below the vertical displacer connected to the float chamber prevents escape of water through the overflow tube during flushing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a handle axially connected to said reservoir to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; and a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said trough.
 2. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a handle axially connected to said reservoir to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said trough; and a leak alert bar connected to said trough to alert any leak and temporarily reset said flushing system.
 3. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir pivotally mounted on said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a handle axially connected to said reservoir to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said trough; and an overflow prevention system to disable flushing operation when said bowl is clogged and nearly full.
 4. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir pivotally mounted in said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a displacer movably attached inside said reservoir to expel water from said reservoir; a handle axially connected to said displacer to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; and a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said trough;
 5. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir pivotally mounted in said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a displacer movably attached inside said reservoir to expel water from said reservoir; a handle axially connected to said displacer to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said trough; and a leak alert bar connected to said trough to alert any leak and temporarily reset said flushing system.
 6. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir mounted in said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a float to control the water level in said reservoir; a displacer movably attached inside said reservoir to expel water from said reservoir; a handle connected to said displacer to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; and a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said float;
 7. A toilet flushing system comprising a support mounted over and fluidly connected to a toilet bowl; a water reservoir mounted in said support member to receive and dispense water to said bowl; a float to control the water level in said reservoir; a displacer movably attached inside said reservoir to expel water from said reservoir; a handle connected to said displacer to dispense required amount of water to said bowl; a trough to collect all leaking and overflowing water from said flushing system; a valve system to control the flow of water to said reservoir operated by the orientation of said reservoir and said float; and a leak alert bar connected to said trough to alert any leak in the flushing system. 